Members of the National Assembly caucus in both the Senate and House of Representatives from Ekiti State on Thursday, advised the Federal Government to stop harassing the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and face true governance with a view to delivering dividends of democracy to the populace.
This was contained in a statement issued by the caucus and signed by the Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi, and made available to news men in Abuja, in which the caucus urged the All Progressives Congress led Federal Government to address the nation’s multi faceted problems especially the dwindling economy and insecurity.
It observed that it was becoming worrisome that democracy was being endangered by the persistent harassment of opposition figures by the APC led Federal Government.
The caucus, while condemning the freezing of the bank accounts of the state governor and harassment of members of the state House of Assembly maintained that it was absolutely illegal, and an affront on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for bank accounts of any Nigerian to be blocked by the EFCC without court order, not to talk of a sitting governor that enjoyed absolute immunity.
The National Assembly caucus, which declared support for the governor, said; “We remain resolute in our support for our governor, Ayodele Fayose and we are confident that he is not a man that can be intimidated by anyone.
Meanwhile, leaders of Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State on Thursday protested in Ido Ekiti, headquarters of Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state, against what they described as “subtle plot by Federal Government to silence Governor Ayodele Fayose as the lone opposition voice in the country.”
The protesters also threatened to recall any of the lawmakers in the state, who worked against the interest of the state and thereby scuttle the government of the state led by Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Chief Idowu Faleye, the immediate past chairman of the PDP in the state said, “Any of the lawmakers in the state assembly that works against the governor is working against Ekiti interest and we won’t hesitate to recall the person.
“They are all in the state assembly on the benevolence of the governor, so any act of betrayal will be taken as a coup against our collective interest.”
Chief Faleye claimed that the APC was working to frustrate the government of Governor Fayose because the party had lost relevance in the state.
He said: “APC is now in oblivion in the state. They have destroyed their political base because they ran the state into N76bn debt. So Fayose cannot be blamed for being unable to pay workers. If former Governor Kayode Fayemi had not obtained loan in excess, Ekiti would not have run into this crisis.”
He charged President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services against over-zealousness, saying “the people are ready to resist any plot to remove Fayose with their blood.”
He said: “We are ready to resist any attempt to hijack powers from Fayose through the back door with our last drop of blood. We have sensitised our people and they know the truth. We will continue to expose the lies and scheming of the Federal Government against the governor.”
and then